The article that I chose for my analysis is titled “Grappling with Dominant Ideologies: Fox Network Weighs in on Girl/Boy Wrestling. This article compares three Fox shows and they way that they address girls who join the wrestling teams at school. All three articles provide a similar conclusion and varying details. The article indicates that wrestling and football are some of the only sports that do not allow girls to participate on boys teams. The article speaks about Title IX which was created in 1972. Title IX promised equality between male and female sports participants. This article was intended for people wanting to compare gender differences surrounding wrestling. The article could have a very vast audience as many people may find this information interesting. The three shows that are discussed in this article are King of the Hill, Malcolm in the Middle, and Boston Public.
The first television show that is discussed in this article is King of the Hill. In this episode of King of the Hill, Bobby Hill tries out for the wrestling team. Bobby is unaware of the fact that Connie, the neighbor is also trying out for team. In a strange turn of events Bobby and Connie have to wrestle each other to determine who makes the team. The wrestling match turns into an imitation WWF match and the contest is declared a draw. Therefore, Bobby and Connie both make the team. This strange turn of events did not help or hurt either one of the children, which is a good thing. This episode demonstrated that girls can wrestle with boys.
The second television show that is discussed in this article is an episode of Malcolm in the Middle. In this episode, Malcolm’s brother Reese tries out for the wrestling team. One of Reese’s first matches is against a girl. Reese’s family is outraged that he has to wrestle a girl. The girl ends the match by pinning Reese and winning the match. The family discusses the match at the dinner table and Reese feels embarrassed and annoyed. Reese stops being the bully at school after his loss on the wrestling mat. Things at school become out of control without Reese to enforce the rules. The episode ends with Reese returning to the playground as the bully. This episode has a very different ending than King of the Hill did. This episode demonstrates that a girl can beat a boy at wrestling and therefore, should be allowed to wrestle.
The third television show that this mentioned in this article is Boston Public. In this episode of Boston Public a chubby girl named Christine is beating up boys who pick on her. The wrestling coach figures out that Christine is person responsible for attacking the boys. He confronts Christine and she admits to the attacks. He suggests that she should join the wrestling team. She agrees to join the wrestling team even though her father is against it. She wins her first match. The team congratulates her on her win. They cannot lift her up because of her size so they pat her on the back. This television chose to focus on the fact the some girls do not the predefined role that has been created for them. This does not mean that they cannot be good things but it just means that they are different. Unfortunately, society does not act so kindly to kids that are different than everyone else.
The conclusion of this article explains that each of the girls on these television shows did well. These shows also warn of us of the implications of girls wrestling. The article suggests that girls’ wrestling is leading to a further deterioration of the sport. The article also implies that by girls being on a wrestling team they are taking spots away from boys who could be on the team. The article also indicates that it is dangerous for a girl to join a boy’s team. The article also indicates that the way the shows portray this situation is inaccurate.
This article was very well written. The thoughts are very well organized and they appear in correct chronological order. The main ideas are backed up thoughts, ideas, and supporting evidence provided by the author. The author provides us with her opinions about why the television shows presented the idea the way they did. This of course is her opinion and not fact but it seemed like a logical explanation. This article was very well written.
I do not agree with a great deal of information that was provided in this article. My son wrestles for our school and we have encountered female wrestlers in the past. Our family finds this to be very difficult because we have always taught our son that you never put your hands on a female. We are very strict with our beliefs about respecting women and how our son treats a female. In his wrestling career, he has had to wrestle a few girls. This is very difficult for him because he does not like to be tough with the girls because they are girls. He has worked through this and he uses the least amount of force necessary to win when wrestling a female opponent. I am an advocate for female rights and I believe that girls can do any sport that a boy can do, I am just not sure that a boy and girl should wrestle together.
The second issue that I have with male/female wrestling is their age. There becomes a time when I do not think that boys and girls have any business wrestling each other. It is disturbing to watch a twelve year old boy and a twelve year old girl roll around on the floor together. There is just something unnatural about watching that. I have no problem with girls wrestling but I think that there should be an all girl’s teams. I do not think that male and female wrestlers should wrestle each other.
References
Walton, T. (2007). Grappling with Dominant Ideologies: Fox Network Weighs in on Girl/Boy Wrestling. The Journal of Popular Culture, Vol. 40, No. 4, 714-727.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Weekly Written Analysis 5
The topic that I chose for my analysis this week is the television show Reba. This is a television show about a woman who is divorced and has three children. Her oldest daughter Cheyenne is married and has a child. This child was a result of a teenage pregnancy. Cheyenne and her husband Van live with Reba and her two other children Jake and Kyra. Reba’s ex-husband Brock and his wife Barbara Jean live across the street. Brock and Barbara Jean have a son named Henry. The entire show is based on the struggles that this family goes through in daily life.
The formula that is used for this program is that bad things happen to good people and live goes on. The divorce was very difficult for Reba and it took her a very long time before she considered dating anyone. I think that the producer of this show wanted to appeal to the audience of divorced families. This show can let people know that their problems are not unique and they are not alone. I also think that the producers wanted to appeal to teenagers and let them know that teenage pregnancy can be survived. That even though the circumstances are not ideal, life goes on.
Many of the rituals portrayed by the television show are rituals that any family has. I think that this is an important part of the show. It shows the audience that even if your home life is different from others that many of the rituals that are performed happen in any family. For example, dinner at Reba’s house, many nights the entire family sits down for dinner at the table together. This may be a different setting than some families but many families try to have dinner together.
I really appreciate shows like this because I when I was growing up there were not many shows with divorced families in them. This made children from divorced families feel bad because they are different. Television shows like Reba show the world that everyone has problems and everyone’s problems are different. Anyone can overcome their problems if they work hard and are diligent. I think this show provides many good lessons for people of all ages.
References
Reba. (2009, June). Retrieved June 21, 2009, from Crazy about TV: http://crazyabouttv.com/Images/reba.jpg
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Weekly Written Analysis 4
The pop culture topic I chose for this week is the television show Jon and Kate plus 8. This is a reality television show where the couple has a set of twins and a set of sextuplets. The entire show is based on the family live of this couple and their eight children. Obviously, it is very difficult dealing with this many children and their different wants and needs. This show has become very popular is the last few years.
This show has gained a great deal of publicity over the last few months as people are making accusations about scandal within the family. There have been allegations of affairs from the husband and the wife. Pictures have surfaced which implicate infidelity on both sides. The media is creating frenzy with all of this drama. Interviews with the husband and wife have implied that the lifestyle is part of the problem. They both agree that being in the spotlight changes everything.
Many people looked at this family as their heroes because of the adversity that they have gone through. Now, everything is changing because of the rumors of divorce. This was an ordinary family that was given extraordinary circumstances and was dealing with it the best way that they could. Sometimes I feel that all the attention that celebrities receive can cause a lot of unnecessary stress in their lives. I cannot imagine having cameras around me and my family all of the time.
This family went from being an ordinary family to celebrities overnight. When this family agreed to do this television show it changed their lives forever. I wonder if they had to do it again if they would make a different choice. Unfortunately, we cannot change the past and thus this family is going through some real tragedy right now. I personally do not understand why people are drawn to other people’s struggles. I feel sorry for this family and I wish that people would give them their space but since they started the show people feel that they have the right to know what is going on.
Here is a picture of Jon and Kate plus 8 prior to the divorce rumors.
References
Holiday at the Sea. (2009, June 4). The Temptation of the Public Eye. Retrieved June 14, 2009, from Holiday at the Sea: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.holidayatthesea.com/wp-content/uploads/jon_and_kate_plus8.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.holidayatthesea.com/&h=475&w=475&sz=24&tbnid=GrDOGNQgm4maAM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=129&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dimages%2Bof%2Bjohn%2Band%2B
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Weekly Written Analysis 3
The topic I chose for this week’s summary is the song “Good Directions” by Billy Currington. This song is basically a love song. There is a man sitting on a truck selling turnip greens. A woman pulls up and asks for directions. He gives her directions which include stopping at the local store to get some sweet tea. He tells her to turn left and that will take her back to the interstate. She does not get on the interstate but she comes back to him.
There are a few stereotypes in this song. The song stereotypes the man selling turnip greens as a redneck. When I am listening to this song I picture a man in dirty clothes sitting on the bed of an old pickup truck. The song also stereotypes the woman asking for directions as a sophisticated Hollywood type. The stereotype of the man may be somewhat true. The stereotype of the woman must be incorrect because she came back to him. If she was so high class or sophisticated she would not have come back to him.
I think the song also stereotypes the south as a friendly place. For example, he tells the woman to ask Miss Bell for some of her sweet tea. There are not too many places these days where people are that generous. I used to live in Georgia so I know that type of hospitality does exist in some parts of Georgia. In the song the man refers to himself as an old fool because he didn’t ask for her name. He also says she wouldn’t like me anyhow. I think that is an inferred stereotype. The man thinks that the woman is out of his league. He thinks that she is too good for him. This is a common way that stereotypes can have a negative effect on someone. He is stereotyped as being a country boy and she is stereotyped as being a Hollywood type therefore he thinks that she would not be interested in her.
This song also has somewhat of a ritual to it as well. The man giving directions does so without thinking about it. This makes me think that he must get a few people asking for directions each day when he selling turnip greens. It is his ritual to tell people to see Miss Bell for sweet tea and then tell them how to get back to the interstate. This ritual helped him find love.
References
Currington, B. (2009). Good Directions. Retrieved June 7, 2009, from Cowboylyrics.com: http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/currington-billy/good-directions-16463.html
There are a few stereotypes in this song. The song stereotypes the man selling turnip greens as a redneck. When I am listening to this song I picture a man in dirty clothes sitting on the bed of an old pickup truck. The song also stereotypes the woman asking for directions as a sophisticated Hollywood type. The stereotype of the man may be somewhat true. The stereotype of the woman must be incorrect because she came back to him. If she was so high class or sophisticated she would not have come back to him.
I think the song also stereotypes the south as a friendly place. For example, he tells the woman to ask Miss Bell for some of her sweet tea. There are not too many places these days where people are that generous. I used to live in Georgia so I know that type of hospitality does exist in some parts of Georgia. In the song the man refers to himself as an old fool because he didn’t ask for her name. He also says she wouldn’t like me anyhow. I think that is an inferred stereotype. The man thinks that the woman is out of his league. He thinks that she is too good for him. This is a common way that stereotypes can have a negative effect on someone. He is stereotyped as being a country boy and she is stereotyped as being a Hollywood type therefore he thinks that she would not be interested in her.
This song also has somewhat of a ritual to it as well. The man giving directions does so without thinking about it. This makes me think that he must get a few people asking for directions each day when he selling turnip greens. It is his ritual to tell people to see Miss Bell for sweet tea and then tell them how to get back to the interstate. This ritual helped him find love.
References
Currington, B. (2009). Good Directions. Retrieved June 7, 2009, from Cowboylyrics.com: http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/currington-billy/good-directions-16463.html
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Weekly Written Analysis 2
The topic I chose for the week two analyses is medical advice websites. There are rashes of medical advice websites in operation today. These websites can provide medical advice, symptom checker, general information about diseases and conditions, and general health information. These websites are growing in popularity as many people refer to the internet for information. People have started using these websites instead of calling their doctor or a hotline. These websites allow you to enter information and then provide you with a series of steps to follow to treat the condition or symptoms that you are experiencing. These websites can be both good and bad. If one does not convey their symptoms properly they could receive an incorrect diagnosis. Websites such as these can provide good information in dire circumstances but should not be substituted for a medical professional’s opinion.
These websites have also affected doctors business because far less people are seeing the doctor. These people are seeking home treatment instead of making an appointment with the doctor. Most times people are able to treat minor injuries or illnesses with the advice that they receive from these websites. Sometimes things do not go so smoothly. On rare occasions people use the advice from these websites and they make the problem worse. Their doctor or emergency room must then treat the patient’s condition to prevent further complications.
Individuals must realize that these websites were not created to take the place of a doctor but to provide advice for minor problems. According to an article from ABC there are several things that a person should consider before taking advice from one of these internet sites. (Green, 2008) Today’s culture is very technologically savvy and we are always looking for a more efficiently way to do things. Thus the medical advice websites have replaced the medical dictionaries of the past. In many ways the websites of today are able to provide much more specific information than their printed counterparts of the past. Everyone must beware that these websites are not familiar with a patient’s history and therefore cannot predict reactions to medications or potentially fatal problems. These websites should not be used to diagnose or treat any serious or potentially serious conditions.
References
Green, L. (2008, December 30). Finding trustworthy medical advice online. Retrieved May 30, 2009, from abclogal.go.com: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=view_from_the_bay/health_fitness&id=6485853
These websites have also affected doctors business because far less people are seeing the doctor. These people are seeking home treatment instead of making an appointment with the doctor. Most times people are able to treat minor injuries or illnesses with the advice that they receive from these websites. Sometimes things do not go so smoothly. On rare occasions people use the advice from these websites and they make the problem worse. Their doctor or emergency room must then treat the patient’s condition to prevent further complications.
Individuals must realize that these websites were not created to take the place of a doctor but to provide advice for minor problems. According to an article from ABC there are several things that a person should consider before taking advice from one of these internet sites. (Green, 2008) Today’s culture is very technologically savvy and we are always looking for a more efficiently way to do things. Thus the medical advice websites have replaced the medical dictionaries of the past. In many ways the websites of today are able to provide much more specific information than their printed counterparts of the past. Everyone must beware that these websites are not familiar with a patient’s history and therefore cannot predict reactions to medications or potentially fatal problems. These websites should not be used to diagnose or treat any serious or potentially serious conditions.
References
Green, L. (2008, December 30). Finding trustworthy medical advice online. Retrieved May 30, 2009, from abclogal.go.com: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=view_from_the_bay/health_fitness&id=6485853
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Icon Analysis
The three contemporary icons that I chose are Hannah Montana, Iron Chef Bobby Flay, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Hannah Montana is a character on a television show for tweens and teens. This show airs on the Disney Channel. Hannah’s character is played by Miley Stewart (previously Cyrus). Hannah is a music star who is constantly being chased by cameras and press. Hannah would prefer to have a normal life when she is not on stage. Bobby Flay is an iron chef. He also stars in Throw down with Bobby Flay and Iron Chef America. Both of these television shows are cooking competition shows. Bobby Flay is an award winning chef. The Secret Life of the American Teenager is a television shows that airs on ABC. This television show is based on a pregnant 15 year old girl and her family. The show describes how the girl got pregnant and the struggles that she encountered as a result.
Hannah Montana is a very important person in the lives of young people today. I have a nine year old son and that is how I learned about Hannah Montana. I chose Hannah because I feel that her show has a lot to offer young people. It shows how other people live their lives and the struggles that they face. I think that it shows children that no matter what type of life that you have there are going to be struggles. I chose Bobby Flay because I really admire him. I would love to be able to cook like him. I think that Bobby offers a whole new meaning to the word cooking. He is very good at what he does and he tries very hard. Lastly, I chose The Secret Life of the American teenager because it demonstrates how much this country has changed in my lifetime. When I was younger people would avoid talking about a pregnant teen. No one would have ever even dreamed of creating a television show. This show can represent some good things or some bad things depending on how you look at it. This makes it very controversial. This controversy is what draws me to the show.
Hannah means several things to me. She represents a teen idol. Every teenage girl has someone that they look up to and for my son’s generation she is the one. This really great because children need a positive role model and I think that they can find that in Hannah Montana. Bobby Flay represents someone that I look up to. I wish that I could cook half as good as he does. Bobby seems to have a real passion for cooking and he does it well. I hope to find something that I can feel that passionate about some day. The Secret Life of the American Teenager shows me that times are changing and that I should do a better job of staying informed. Some parts of this show are pretty strange but for the most part it does what it was intended to. Make young people think.
The three contemporary icons that I chose are Hannah Montana, Iron Chef Bobby Flay, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Hannah Montana is a character on a television show for tweens and teens. This show airs on the Disney Channel. Hannah’s character is played by Miley Stewart (previously Cyrus). Hannah is a music star who is constantly being chased by cameras and press. Hannah would prefer to have a normal life when she is not on stage. Bobby Flay is an iron chef. He also stars in Throw down with Bobby Flay and Iron Chef America. Both of these television shows are cooking competition shows. Bobby Flay is an award winning chef. The Secret Life of the American Teenager is a television shows that airs on ABC. This television show is based on a pregnant 15 year old girl and her family. The show describes how the girl got pregnant and the struggles that she encountered as a result.
Hannah Montana is a very important person in the lives of young people today. I have a nine year old son and that is how I learned about Hannah Montana. I chose Hannah because I feel that her show has a lot to offer young people. It shows how other people live their lives and the struggles that they face. I think that it shows children that no matter what type of life that you have there are going to be struggles. I chose Bobby Flay because I really admire him. I would love to be able to cook like him. I think that Bobby offers a whole new meaning to the word cooking. He is very good at what he does and he tries very hard. Lastly, I chose The Secret Life of the American teenager because it demonstrates how much this country has changed in my lifetime. When I was younger people would avoid talking about a pregnant teen. No one would have ever even dreamed of creating a television show. This show can represent some good things or some bad things depending on how you look at it. This makes it very controversial. This controversy is what draws me to the show.
Hannah means several things to me. She represents a teen idol. Every teenage girl has someone that they look up to and for my son’s generation she is the one. This really great because children need a positive role model and I think that they can find that in Hannah Montana. Bobby Flay represents someone that I look up to. I wish that I could cook half as good as he does. Bobby seems to have a real passion for cooking and he does it well. I hope to find something that I can feel that passionate about some day. The Secret Life of the American Teenager shows me that times are changing and that I should do a better job of staying informed. Some parts of this show are pretty strange but for the most part it does what it was intended to. Make young people think.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Hi Michelle,
I also did my first post on American Idol. I was so amazed as I was researching the American Idol website, I could not believe all of the different topics you could search for and all of the blogs dedicated to only American Idol. It is amazing that people put so much time into being fans of a reality television show. I believe that this was the 8th season of American Idol, I wonder how many more years this show will be a top hit?
I also did my first post on American Idol. I was so amazed as I was researching the American Idol website, I could not believe all of the different topics you could search for and all of the blogs dedicated to only American Idol. It is amazing that people put so much time into being fans of a reality television show. I believe that this was the 8th season of American Idol, I wonder how many more years this show will be a top hit?
Friday, May 22, 2009
The internet is a very interesting part of popular culture. The part of the internet that interests me the most is Facebook. This is one aspect of the internet that has become very popular of late. The number of people that are creating Facebook pages and re-establishing lost connections from their past is growing every day. CNN.com states that Facebook is growing by 5 million users per week. (Hempel, 2009) People create Facebook pages by posting their personal information on a website. People can then search this website to locate people. When you post your information to this website your information can be public or private. If your information is private then people can only see your picture and your name. Your information can be private and you can grant access to certain individuals.
Facebook has changed the way that people communicate. Instead of e-mail or texting an event in your life to many different people you can post it on your Facebook and your friends can read about it there. Facebook also allows you to locate people based on interests or locations. This has changed the way that people meet new people. According to CNN.com Facebook reached 175 million users in February 2009. (Hempel, 2009) These changes are not all beneficial.
People must realize that when you post your personal information on the internet it can end up in the wrong hands and probably will. Many hackers use websites such a Facebook to obtain peoples personal information. These hackers can steal your identity or sell your personal information to others. This new found hobby comes with a great deal of responsibility and one should not enter into it lightly. People have been fired from their jobs for things that they posted on their Facebook page. Many companies have started searching Facebook pages when looking for new employees because they can learn a great deal about someone from their Facebook page.
Internet sites such as Facebook have changed the way we communicate permanently. Therefore, Facebook is an excellent example of popular culture. The popularity of these types of websites is growing every day. People must remember to be careful because anything in print on the internet can be read by anyone.
References
Hempel, J. (2009, February 17). How Facebook is taking over our lives. Retrieved May 23, 2009, from cnnMoney.com: http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/16/technology/hempel_facebook.fortune/index.htm
Facebook has changed the way that people communicate. Instead of e-mail or texting an event in your life to many different people you can post it on your Facebook and your friends can read about it there. Facebook also allows you to locate people based on interests or locations. This has changed the way that people meet new people. According to CNN.com Facebook reached 175 million users in February 2009. (Hempel, 2009) These changes are not all beneficial.
People must realize that when you post your personal information on the internet it can end up in the wrong hands and probably will. Many hackers use websites such a Facebook to obtain peoples personal information. These hackers can steal your identity or sell your personal information to others. This new found hobby comes with a great deal of responsibility and one should not enter into it lightly. People have been fired from their jobs for things that they posted on their Facebook page. Many companies have started searching Facebook pages when looking for new employees because they can learn a great deal about someone from their Facebook page.
Internet sites such as Facebook have changed the way we communicate permanently. Therefore, Facebook is an excellent example of popular culture. The popularity of these types of websites is growing every day. People must remember to be careful because anything in print on the internet can be read by anyone.
References
Hempel, J. (2009, February 17). How Facebook is taking over our lives. Retrieved May 23, 2009, from cnnMoney.com: http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/16/technology/hempel_facebook.fortune/index.htm
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